Georgia Industrial Minerals, Inc.

U.S. Borax, Inc.

Donald G Turner

David M Avant, Jr

J Elmo Bloodworth

Samuel M Pickering, Jr

Sedimentary mica flakes are produced having a bulk density of between about five and one-half pounds per cubic feet and eight pounds per cubic feet (5.5-11 lbs/ft ), a high aspect ratio, and a G.E. brightness between about seventy-five and ninety (75-90). Operations include applying shear forces to delaminate the mica into flakes. Shear forces are applied by rotating a plurality of arcuate blades within a confined chamber containing the mica, such that the mica is forced between an outer portion of each blade and said chamber. The resulting delaminated mica flakes may be dried and classified.

Delaminated sedimentary mica

Sedimentary mica flakes are produced having a bulk density of between about five and one-half pounds per cubic feet and eight pounds per cubic feet (5.5-11 lbs/ft.sup.3), a high aspect ratio, and a G.E. brightness between about seventy-five and ninety (75-90). Operations include applying shear forces to delaminate the mica into flakes. Shear forces are applied by rotating a plurality of arcuate blades within a confined chamber containing the mica, such that the mica is forced between an outer portion of each blade and said chamber. The resulting delaminated mica flakes may be dried and classified.

Systems and method for producing delaminated sedimentary mica

The present invention provides a process for whitening kaolin contaminated with chlorite/biotite micas. The process comprises the steps of contacting the kaolin contaminated with chlorite/biotite micas with an aqueous acid solution to convert the chlorite/biotite micas into kaolin and one or more dissolved metal salts, and separating the kaolin from the dissolved metal salts. The present invention also provided an overall system for whitening kaolin contaminated with chlorite/biotite micas. The process comprises blunging the kaolin contaminated with chlorite/biotite micas to provide a 20 to 70 percent solid slurry, degritting the slurry, delaminating the degritted slurry, fractionating the degritted slurry, subjecting the slurry to a magnetic field to remove iron or iron-titanium oxides, reductive leaching the slurry, contacting the slurry with an aqueous acid solution to convert the chlorite/biotite micas into kaolin or a kaolin-like clay and one or more dissolved metal salts (e.g., iron, magnesium, and potassium salts), and separating the kaolin or kaolin-like clay from the dissolved metal salts.

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Washington, GA, United States of America

Donald G Turner